Kenneled dogs check out some visitors on April 30, 2025, at the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association.
SIERRA MARLING | Gazette-Mail
The Kanawha County Commission approved $10,000 Thursday for , which provides low-cost spay/neuter services to the public.
The Fix’Em Clinic is anticipating an influx of clients as the other local clinic, Fix Charleston, pivots to focus solely on services for the overpopulated Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association.
One of Fix Charleston’s two veterinarians left for another opportunity earlier this month. As a result, will be shifting to a pop-up event model for their public services. These clinics will offer low-cost or free services, such as vaccinations, microchipping and flea/tick prevention.
Bethany Hively, KCHA executive director, told commissioners Thursday afternoon that even after Fix Charleston hires another veterinarian, the organization may not provide as many public services as before.
“ We are still struggling to spay and neuter all of the animals that we’re adopting out ... with only one full-time veterinarian,†Hively said. “So our intention is to get a second veterinarian on board, make sure that we’re meeting the needs of all the animals in-house first, and then get our toes wet with Fix Charleston and get it up and running again.â€
The change in focus was “eased†because the Fix’Em Clinic is also providing services in the community, Hively said.
600 procedures a month
Rachel Burgess, Fix’Em Clinic executive director, told commissioners the Fix’Em Clinic has one veterinarian and averages around 600 spay/neuter procedures a month. Last year, 60% of the animals spayed/neutered at the Fix’Em Clinic were from Kanawha County.
Burgess said Fix’Em Clinic would now be the only Kanawha County organization offering these low-cost spays/neuters.
It also hosts a low-cost spay/neuter program for feral cats. Those cats can be spayed/neutered for $20 or free depending on grant funding. A third of the feral cats they treated in 2024 were in Kanawha County.
The commissioners unanimously approved to give $10,000 to the Fix’Em Clinic from the county’s dog fund, which is comprised of taxes collected on Kanawha County dogs. The money will only be used for services on Kanawha County animals.
County clean-ups
Tom Blasingam, county planning director, reported to the commissioners on the two spring clean-up events held in April. This year, the county is holding two of the trash collection events in the spring and two in the fall rather than three in the spring and three in the fall.
Fall clean-up events will be hosted in South Charleston and Clendenin.
The commissioners also approved up to $39,000 in overtime for 20 Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office deputies for security help during next week’s USA Cycling Pro Road Championships in Charleston.
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